Pressure-translating device



Feb. 19, 1924.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. F. JENK INS Filed Dec. 4, 1920 a a a a a a PRESSURETRANSLATING DEVICE Feb. 19 1924.

I A. F. JENKNS' I PRESSURE TRANSJATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 4, 1920 5Sheets-Sheet 2 v athine&

Feb. '19 1924.

A. F. JENKINS PRESSURE TRANSL ATING DEVICE Filed Dec. 4, 1920 3Sheets-Sheet 5 patente& Feb. 19, "1924.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER FREDERICK JENKINS, OF BALTIMORE, MABYLAND.

PRESSURE-TRANSLATING IEVICE.

Application filed December& 1920.. Serial No 428313. I

To all whom z't may concem:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER FREDERICK JENK1Ns,.a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing in the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland,have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'in Pressure-Translating Devices, of which the following is a 'specificatiom Pressuregauges, regulators and the like 'which are dependent for their operation.upon the change of contour of a curved tube, due to change of the fluidpressure are well known, the curved tube being known as the Bourdontube. The accordion or bellows type of gauge and regulator is also wellknown.

The present invention relates to a new actuating principle or moreparticularly to a new type of fluid pressure translatin device which iscapable of convenient an eflicient arrangement in connection with apressure regulator or pressure gauge or other similar device; which iscapable of being produced at an exceedingly small cost and whenfembodiedin 'the finished form as a pressure gauge or regulator admits of ex-.ceedingly compact arrangement and gives increased efliciency anduniformity of operation. I

The invention also relates to the details and features of the apparats.More specifically described, `the translating' device 1 consists of anelongated tube which is formed or bent in the form of a series of shortreverse curves or changes of direction as .distinguished i from anordinary 'corrugated cylinder or bellows.

As the contour of the curve changes With the Variation of internalpressure or the variation of the relation between internal' In 'thepreferred form, particularly as applied to a pressure regulator, thetranslating device s in a general way straight,

that is, the tangents of the peaks ofthe curves are in alignment and theinternal peaks are spaced apart sufiiciently to per-` mit a straightvalve rod or other actuating rod to be 'passed through the tube, orchanges in length due to; changes' of pressure' applied to the tube maybe wutilized to indicateor regulatepressure in any preferred manner.

An important advantage of the translat f I ing unit is that it can beproduced in quantities rapidly and at exceedingly small cost, as itconsists merely of a section of tubing which can be easily rolled orformed in a series of reverse curves or waves or angles as'alreadypointed out and as illustrated in the drawings;

Inthe accompanying drawings, I have shown a pressure gauge and also apressure regulator constructed n acco'dan'ce with my invention, the samebeing for the purpose of illustrating the application of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a pressure 'egulator, the figure being a sectiontaken on the vertical axis.

,Figura 2 is a plan View (tfthe bottom section of 'the regulator, thetop being re'- moved.

Figure -3 is a section on the line 3-3 in ti Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an elevation showing a 'pressure gauge with the pressuretranslating unit exposed, the dial being removed.

Figure 6 shows a pressure gauge with the dial in place. I

Referring to the drawings by numerals; `The structure shown consists ofup er and lower frame' or body sections, 1 an 2, respectively, the uppermember, 1, being hollow, cylindrical forming a regulating chainber,containing the re at' or tran& lating member, 3, in'the' orm o a reversecurved tubular member and the lower mem'- ber, 2, which is forconvenience, formed in two parts, 4, 5, including a pressure chamber, 6,it beingunderstoodthat the terms upper and lower, etc., -are used forconconveniently joined by suitable fastenings as screws, 10, engagingvflanges, 11, at the bottom of the upper `or regulating section andseated in the lower section 2, so that the bottom Wall, 17, of theregulating chamber is formed in the lower section, 2. The regulating ortranslating member, 3, in the -form of the invention shown isclosed atthe top at 12, and open at the bottom, the open end of the tube in the,form shown being flanged at 14, and the fianges being Secured to aplug, 15, which is threaded to engage threads in a threaded opening, 16,in the bottom wall, 17, of the regulating chamber. The lug is centrallyapertured in alignment wth the passage, 7, and the valve stem, 18, whichextends throigh the reverse curved tube 3, which is the regu-' lating ortranslating member, abuts against a disk, 21, which bears' against thetop wall, 12, of the translating member. This valve stem extends downthrough the opening in the plug, 15, through the passage, 7, con.-necting 'the pressure regulating chanber, 1, and the high pressurechamber, 9, and engages with its lower end, 22, a valve disk, 23, in thepressure chamber. 7

In the form of the invention shown -there is a plug, 23' threaded upwardinto the top wall, 24, of the pressure chamber, the free stem iscorrespondingly shouldered and the end extending downward into thepressure chamber, the plug being concentric with and a rtured inalignment with the passage, 7.

e aperture, 70, in the plug, is reducedat 25, forming a shoulder, ,26,and the valve shoulders co-operate, determining the advanced position ofthe valve stem.

In the form of the invention shown, the valre disk, 23, is mounted in acarrier,'71, in the form of a cylinder which encloses and slides on theplug, 23,' which acts as a guide. The carrier is flanged at its pper endat 27 and controlled by a spring, 28,

j so

which encircles the carrier, hearing aganst the flange, 27-, at one endand against a suit able abutment, 29, on the bottom of the pressurechamber, shown in the form of a button, which is free to rock relativelyto the walh of the chamber. 'The valve disk 23, is seated in thecarrier, 71, against a shoulder, 30, and held by a screw plug, 31.' Thecarrier, as shown,.is `provided wth a ma ese guiding pin, 32, seated inaguide pin opening or socket, 33. v 3

Referring to the regulating chambe'r, the

regulating' or pressure translating member,`

3, as shown, is enclosed within a' cylindrical cap, 34, having a'flange', 35, at its lower or open end and the cap is encir'cled by aspiral spring, 36, which bear-s on the, fiange, 35,

and at its opposite end against a button or disk, 37, which is suitablyflanged to position the spring and which in turn rest s upon a screwstud, 38, threaded in a screw plug or cap, 39,-which closes the upperend of the regulating -chamber 2., 'The screw stud is for purposes ofadjustment as to the tension of the spring and hence as to the criticalpressure or pressure of regulation.

'In Figure 2,' I have shown two pressure gauges, 40, and 41, the firstfor the purpose is most Conveniently connected to the passage, 7. A highpressure or supply pipe, 44, is shown leading to the high pressurechamber, 6, see F igure 1.

In the operation of the regulator, the fluid, the pressure of which istobe rgulated, 'is led to the high pressure chamber by way of theaforesaid supply pipe, 44. Assumin that the delivery pressure is belownorma the valve disk, 23, is separated from the valve seat, 45, by anappreciable interval as indicated in F igure 1, and the gas enters thepassages, 7, about the valve rod, 8, which is preferably of anglar crosssection to permit the free passage of the gas without undesirable playof the valve stem in the passage.

The entra'nceof fluid xthroughpassage 7 from the high ressure chamber orsupply causes the buildng up of the pressure to be translating orregulating member-,3, and as This i connected .in the llO the pressurebuilds up, this tubular member tends to straighten andqtherefore tolengthen withdrawing the Valve stem, 8, and permitting the valve disk,23, actuated by the spring, 28, to approach ,its seat. At the criticalpressure or pressure of regulation, the valve disk is seated, theregulating operation being con-tinud and repeated in accordance with thewell known principles of pressure regulation. p

In the apparatus shown, adjustmnt of the pressure of regulation isefiected by means of the opposed springs, 36, and 28, the tension. ofthe spring, 36, being, changed by means of the screw adjustment `orscrew stud, 38, which change of adjustment has a corresponding 'eifecton theresultant action of the two springs and hence on the springpressure applied to the valve disk, 23. In the apparatus shown, thisresultant spring pressure, co-operates with the resiliency of theregulating or translating member, 3, to determine the temperature ofregulation, which when gas under pressure is applied, as aforesaid, isindicated by the gauge, 40 To assemble the regulator, the upper section,1, the lower section, 2, the co-operating parts, 4, 5, composing thelower section, 2, being separated, the plug, 23', is seated in the topwall of the pressure chamber, the latter carrying the valve seat, 45,the stem, 8, which may be brazed or soldered to the inside of-the topwall of the translating tube or member, 3, is passed through thepassage, 7. The regulating or translating member, 3, is preferablypermanently Secured to the plug, 15, and this plug carrying said member'is next seated in its, socket in the bottom wall, 17, of the regulatingchamber. The cup, 34, is then passed over the regulating member, 3, orit may be brazed or otherwise fastened thereto at the top end. Spring,36, is seated on and about the cupresting against the bottom flange, 35,and the button, 37. Then the top member, 1, is placed with its flange,11, on'the top face of the lower section, the screws, 10, being insertedto hold it' Referring now to the pressure chamber, 8, the telescopiccarrier, 24, containing the the valve disk', 23, is passed over theplug, 23', the spring, 28. being duly seated thereon, hearing againstfiange 27 and the button, 29, and the parts, 4, and 5, 'are assembled byV engaging the threads, 46, on the respective parts. I

The advantages of the details thus described except in so far as theyrelate particularly to the use of the regulating or translating member,3, are set forth in my co-pending application Nd. 428.414. The presentapplication relats broadly, to the new type of regulating andtranslating member, which is capable of neral application, and tothevarious combnations of this feature with the details herein setforth. i

In Figure 3, which is a sectional view on line 3-3, Figure 1, I haveillustrated a form of tube section which may be used to advantage in theConstruction of the regulating or pressure translating' member. Thsconsists of two strips of `metal, 47, 48, curved or concavedtransversely and having flanges, 49, along the longitudinal edges.-These strips are crimped or waved or formed n reversed curves or insuccessive peaks and depressions as ndicated in Figure 1, and theflanges are `placed in registration and fas-` tened-as indicated at 50forming a tube which will serve eflicientl as a pressure translatingmember in accor ance with my invention,

i. e., a reverse curved tube or a tube having successive hills andvalleys or peaks and depressions with the curves in registration asillustrated in Figure 1, so that the opposite sides or elements arepreferably parallel or substantially parallel and the opposite peaks anddepressions are at least for the pur oses of the form of regulatorillustrate so spaced and formedas to provide for the admission of thevalve stem.

The translating' or pressure 'regulating i member may also be made bybending a section of thin sheet metal' tubing to the form alreadydescribed, i. e., having successive peaks and depressions besides beingsubstantially parallel and the general direction of the 'tube beingpreferably straight so that' an actuating rod may be passed through thetube and be free' to reciprocate, The invention, however, contemplates'and includes apparatus in which the tube is connected from the outsideto the moving members to be actuated, in response to variations ofpressure.

Some of the advantages of this .apparatus .are cheapness and *Simplicityof construc-' tion, possibility of constructing exceedingly ,sensitiveinstruments without the use ofi excessively thin diaphragms and thelike. This is' due to .the fact that the motion produced by a givenchange of pressure is dependent upon the length f thetube and may beincreased to any extent desired by increasing the length of the tube,giving any degree of sensitiveness of the instrument which may bedesired. Another advantage is the convenience of arrangement madepossible by this typeof regulating member, particularly because itprovides a direct act tuating thrust as distinguished from the action ofthe curved Bourdon' tube. This is much easier to translate into aregulating or indicating motion, than is, the corresponding motion ofany .previously known pressure translating device of the tubular type.

Figures 5 and 6, I: have illustrated a pressure gauge embodyin thepressure pipe, 51, seated at its'end ina block, 52, se-

cured to the frame onthe inside and having a passage, 53, leading to theinner 'surface of the block. A pressure translating tube or member, 54,constructed in accordancewith my invention as described and preferablyprovided witha flange, 56at its lower end. the upper end, 57, beingclosed, is Secured to the block with the opening at the lower end of thetube over.. and enclosing the opening or open end' of the passage, 53.The gauge, frame, 75, is covered by a suitable dial, 58, and a pivotpin,

59, is journalled in the frame coneentric with the dial, carrying apointer or hand, 60, adapted to swing over the face of the dial, and apinion, 61, preferably back of the dial. Gearing with the pinion, I haveshown a t othed member, 63, which may be I in the form of a segment orarc or otherscribed this apparatus in detail, in order' wise. This inthe form illustrated is pivoted at 64. This toothed member, 63, in theform shown, is connected in any suitable manner to the upper or movingend of the translating tube," 54. In the present instance, thisconnection is shown in the form of a link, 65, pivoted at one end to anarm, 66, extending backward from the toothed member, 63, and at theother end to a bracket or other suitable means, 67, Secured to the upperor moving end, 57, of the translating tube, 54..

I have thus described the pressure translating member of my invention,which is capable of general application, and have described specificallyand in detail a pressure regulator and a pressure gauge to which it maybe applied and have also dei that the operation of the same and themanner of constructing it may be clearly under'stopd; however, thespecific ;terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limitingsense, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A pressure translating device in the form of a tubular containerhaving its op- 4 posite sides substantially parallel and formed nsuccessive peaks and depressions of a depth less than half the diameterof the tube, means for applying a variable fluid pressure to saidtube,'changing the form and dimensions thereof, and means adapted to beactuated by said change of form and dimension.

2. A pressure translatng devce comprsing a tube formed in a seres ofpeaks and s depressions, the opposite walls of the tube being so spacedand the peaks anddepressions so formed as to admit a rod within the tubeand permit the rod to be reciprocated in the direction of the length ofthe tube, a rod extending, into said tube and 'actuated by the tube tomove in response to the contraction and. expansion of the tube, andmeans for applying a variable fluid pressure to the tube.

3. A pressure' regulator comprising a pressure 'translating memberconsisting of an elongated member having its opposite 'sides paralleland formed in a series of alternate peaks and depressions of a depthless than half the diameter' of the tube,

means for leading fluid under pressure to the regulator, means forleading fluid at regulated pressure from the regulator, a v

` opposite sides substantially connection between said means, means forapplying the regulated pressure to the tube,

means for supporting tube and means actuv' the o'pposite walls of thetube being so spaced and the peaks and depressions so formed as topermit a rod to be reciprocated in the direction of the length of thetube, a rod' extending into said tube and actuated by the tube toreciprocate in response to the contraction and expansion of the tubelength, a valve actuated by said rod to control the Capacity of theconnection between the supply and delivery.

5. A pressure regulator, consisting of a high pressure supply, aregulated pressure delivery, a connection between the supply anddelivery, a pressure translating member, consisting of a tube formed inalternate peaks and depressions, means for applying the regulatedpressure to one surfaceof said tube, means for supporting the tube,avalve rod extending through the tube and adapted to reciprocatetherein, the rod being actuatedbya portion of the tube at a point spacedfromthe support, a valve member controlling 'the connection between thesupply and delivery, the rod being adapted 'to control the valve memberin response to variations to the pressure being regulated.

6. A fluid pressure regulator having a high pressure chamber, aregulating chamber, a passage connecting said chambers, a valve seat,and a valve controlling said passage, a tube form'ed in a series ofpeaks and depressions and closedat one end, the tube being in thereglatingchamber and havin its other end Secured to the wall of thechamber, cnclosing the passage opening, a rod extending into said tube,engaging .the closed end and extending into said passage and' actuatingthe valve, a spring tending to keep the valve on its seat and means forleading the fluid under reglated pressure from the low pressure side ofthe valve.

7. A pressure translating tube having its formed in successive peaks andepressions of a depth less than half the diameter of the tube, the saidtube consisting of two strips concaved transversely and crmped or wavedto form 'said peaks and de ressions and having a flange along each ege,-the flanges of the respective strips being Secured together.

8. A pressure translatng device n the form of a tubular containe ha itsoparallel and posite side substantally arallel and formed in suceessivepeaks and depressons, the said tubular container consstng of two stripsof material extendng longitudnally of the tube, the strips beingconcaved transversely and crmped or waved to form said peaks anddepres'sons, and having correspondng longtudinal edge flanges, whichfianges on the respective strps are' Secured together. v

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, this lst day of December, 1920.

ALEXANDER FREDERICK JENKINS. Wtnesses: r

A. W. CARR, BERTHA SCHROETER.-

